Associated Industries of Massachusetts announced today that it has added one key member to its Government Affairs team and promoted another as the association prepares to represent employers on several complex issues during 2012.

The association named Kristen Lepore of Danvers, a former deputy chief of staff to Governor A. Paul Cellucci, as Vice President of Government Affairs. She will manage AIM’s broad efforts to control the cost of health care and health insurance for Massachusetts employers.

AIM also promoted Bradley MacDougall from Associate Vice President of Government Affairs to Vice President. MacDougall, who joined AIM in 2007, will assume responsibility for the association’s work on taxation issues. He currently manages the association’s work on HR-Labor law issues including policy areas impacting intellectual property and cyber-security.

The two will join John Regan, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs, and Robert Rio, Senior Vice President, in supporting AIM’s legislative agenda and managing issues of general interest to employers.

“We expect 2012 to be a critical year for Massachusetts employers as lawmakers debate issues such as health-care cost control, energy cost control, unemployment insurance reform and others. Kristen and Brad are respected and conscientious executives who strengthen the ability of AIM to advocate for economic growth and job creation,” said Richard C. Lord, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Lepore brings extensive public policy experience on both the state and federal level to her new position at AIM.

She served as a deputy chief of staff to Governor Cellucci from 1999-2001, managing the governor’s priorities in the areas of transportation, education, public safety, health care, housing and fiscal discipline. She also served as director of fiscal policy for the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, and as Assistant Executive Director of MassPort.

Lepore recently served as New England regional representative for the U.S. Department of Education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Suffolk University and a master’s degree in public administration from Suffolk’s Sawyer School of Management.

Prior to joining AIM, MacDougall served as a congressional aide to Congressman Martin T. Meehan, where he worked with local, state and federal officials and community organizations on economic development initiatives. He previously served as Director of Programs, Advocacy and Development at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, the world’s largest education, clinical and research facility.

MacDougall graduated from Assumption College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Minor degrees in Philosophy and Psychology. He earned a Masters in Business Administration from Suffolk University’s Sawyer School of Management.